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Basking under the heat of the sun is such an appealing activity for many and most of the time, the best beaches are always the most crowded. So, instead of pushing through with that summer vacation, there are people who just trundle up their baggage and wait for the peak season to be over.
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However, if you wish to spend some days at a very impressive beach strip that’s not too crowded and if you want to have a taste of how good nature can be, then set foot in Johor, Malaysia. With its sprouting beauty and blossoming economy, Johor is yet to be discovered by many. So, grab those bags and seize the opportunity now.
Location
Spanning a total land area of 7,420 square miles, Johor is known as Malaysia’s fifth largest state. Due to its fortunate placement on the map, Johor has a recorded total of 400 kilometers of coastline. This means wider and more beautiful beach spots to consider.
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Johor is specifically located in Peninsular Malaysia’s southernmost edge with eight large islands namely Pulau Besar, Pulau Lima, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Aur, Pulau Sibu, Pulau Lawa, Pulau Tinggi and Pulau Tengah.
Climate
Some things that are quite common in Johor are the cold temperature and humid air which ranges from 82 to 86%. Since the South China Sea is just within reach, Johor experiences monsoon rains from November and can drag on until February, which then accumulates to a total of 1778 millimeters of rainfall in an annual scale.
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According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Johor is under the tropical rainforest category.
Transportation
Like any other coastal city, water transport is quite abundant in Johor. Both personal transport and cargo shipments take place within its borders, which are currently catered by three ports namely Pasir Gudang Port, Tanjung Langsat Port and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.
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As for air travel, Johor is lucky enough to have the Senai International Airport built in June 1974. This aviation terminal caters to local trips and is served by Malaysian Airlines and Firefly. Almost 5-million passengers have already been served by this airport.
What to See
Legoland
It can be said that one of the most famous landmarks in Malaysia would definitely be the eponymous Legoland. Completed in September 2012, this amusement park is the perfect place to go when you have children. Here, you can enjoy almost 70 attractions and rides, along with a waterpark which can be visited separately from the theme park.
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As for how it’s named, expect a lot of Lego-made structures scattered around the park such as that of the Petronas Towers and the famous Merlion.
Royal Abu Bakar Museum
Erected in the year 1866, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum was once called the Istana Besar, a Victorian-style royal palace which is impressive inside and out.
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Built and designed by a known sultan, this wondrous structure is now home to locally-sponsored art exhibitions, fine artworks and timeless pieces from the royal family who once resided here.
Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque
Aside from being a place of worship, the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is one of the most renowned landmarks in Johor due to the evident use of fine art in its design. The whitewashed walls and blue roofs clearly manifest the clash of influences used when this mosque was still under construction.
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Be careful though, as only Muslims are allowed to enter the edifice, but everyone is welcome to admire it from afar.
See More:
Johor Bahru – Lonely Planet
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/johor
Johor Bahru 2016: Best of Johor Bahru, Malaysia Tourism – TripAdvisor
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g298278-Johor_Bahru_Johor_Bahru_District_Johor-Vacations.html
Images:
(1) http://propcafe.net/
(2) http://firstpullzone.sgmytransportpla.netdna-cdn.com/
(3) http://www.cuti.my/
(4) http://en.climate-data.org/location/3087/
(5) http://www.singaporecruise.com.sg/
(6) http://homestaylegolandjohorbahru.com/
(7) http://newmediares.com/travel/travelling-to-johor-bahru-malaysia.html
(8) https://asahjaya.wordpress.com/
Paul Intalan
